Guns on Campus Gets First Approval in Texas House

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas lawmakers have approved a draft proposal that would allow students to carry guns on college campuses.

The House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee voted 5-3 Wednesday to refer the measure to the full House. It's the first step to becoming law.

The vote followed hours of testimony for and against the measure. Students, university officials and police chiefs overwhelmingly opposed it. Guns-rights advocates testified in favor.

Republicans and Democrats on the committee split along party lines. More than half of the lawmakers in the Texas House favor the measure, and Gov. Rick Perry is expected to make the bill law.